What is Single-Flame Source Tester?

This Single-Flame Source Tester for electric wires, cables, or optical fibers is suitable for testing the vertical flame spread of electric wires, cables, or optical fibers, and complies with multiple international and national standards. The equipment features an intelligent control system, is easy to operate, and can automatically complete functions such as ignition, timing, and data storage. The stainless steel corrosion-resistant housing design ensures accurate, safe, and stable testing. This instrument is widely used for testing the flame retardancy of electric wires and cables and can evaluate the burning of dripping material from samples under flame conditions. Key technical parameters include precise control of flame application time and ignition duration, as well as accurate adjustment of flame height.

Electric wires and cables are the second largest industry in my country after the automotive industry. The single-strand vertical flame tester for electric wires and cables is the most widely used and cost-effective instrument for testing the flame retardancy of cables. The Taistek single-strand electric wire and cable flame tester meets the technical specifications and requirements specified in the national standard GB/T18380.11-2008/IEC60332-1-1:2004 and is suitable for testing the flame retardant properties of the insulation layer of electric wires and cables under abnormal conditions such as overheating and overcurrent under flame conditions. It can be applied to vertical flame spread testing of wires, cables or optical fibers, and can also be used to examine the combustion status of dripping substances under flame conditions.

Test Principle

The KS-54D Single Wire and Cable Vertical Combustion Tester uses a Bunsen burner of specified size and a specific gas source (propane) to ignite a vertically positioned sample at a predetermined flame height and angle over a set time. The flammability and fire hazard are assessed by the duration of ignition, incandescent combustion, and burn length.

Test Procedure

1. Place the instrument in a suitable location, ensuring that the exhaust system at the rear of the standard fume hood can effectively release harmful gases outdoors.

2. Connect the instrument to the air compressor, liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), or propane gas source.

3. Install the connecting wires and connect to a 220V power supply.

4. Check the flame intensity. The standard specifies the placement of the thermocouple and its support relative to the gas torch.

5. Turn on the power, temperature switch, and ignition button to ignite the gas lamp. Adjust the gas flow meter (≥650ml/min) and air flow meter (≥10L/min) to produce a blue inner cone flame height of 50-60mm and an outer flame height of 170-190mm. Observe the time required for the thermocouple to rise from 100℃ to 700℃; if it is 40-50 seconds, the flame intensity is considered qualified. If not, adjust the gas-to-air ratio until it meets the standard requirements. Then turn off the power and temperature switch and remove the thermocouple.

6. Tie the test wire or cable to the central support of the combustion chamber.

7. Adjust the position of the gas torch, set the test time according to the standard requirements, switch the selector switch to automatic mode, turn on the power switch, and press the ignition button to start the test.

8. After the test, turn on the exhaust fan to remove harmful gases outdoors. Analysis of Test Results

Three main scenarios emerged during the single-piece vertical burning test:

1. After the flame source was removed, the flame extinguished immediately. The burned area represents the charring distance, and the distance from the charred point to the lower edge of the upper support is significantly greater than 50mm.

2. After the flame source was removed, the flame did not extinguish. As the flame spread upwards, it gradually extinguished itself, but the final charred point remained more than 50mm from the lower edge of the upper support.

3. After the flame source was removed, the flame did not extinguish. The flame continued to spread to the fixed point of the upper support, and the charring height exceeded the required total spread distance. Samples in scenarios 1 and 2 met the recommended requirements, while samples in scenario 3 did not. The actual flame retardant capability was 1>2>3. In the test analysis, scenarios 1 and 3 were relatively easy to identify, while scenario 2 required consideration depending on the situation. This is mainly because whether the flame extinguished itself after the flame source was removed and continued to spread upwards until it was finally extinguished is influenced by multiple factors during the test process.

Application Areas

Single-flame source analyzers have diverse applications across various fields, with single-flame atomic absorption spectrometry (SVA) being the most typical and widespread. This instrument plays a crucial role in multiple industries due to its high sensitivity, accuracy, and rapid analysis speed:

In the geology and metallurgy fields, it helps geologists assess ore deposit composition and grade by precisely analyzing metallic elements in ore samples, providing data support for mineral resource development; simultaneously, it rapidly detects impurities in metallic materials, ensuring product quality meets high standards.

In the medical field, this instrument is used to detect trace elements in human blood, hair, and other samples, providing scientific evidence for disease diagnosis and nutritional assessment. For example, lithium content determination can aid in the treatment of mental illnesses.

The chemical and petroleum industries rely on it to analyze the elemental composition of raw materials and products, ensuring production stability and product quality; in petroleum testing, it can determine heavy metal content to control environmental pollution risks.

In agriculture and environmental protection, the instrument guides scientific fertilization by detecting soil trace element content, while simultaneously monitoring harmful elements in environmental pollutants, providing data support for ecological protection. For example, its rapid analysis capabilities can efficiently complete the determination of multiple water or soil samples, meeting the timeliness requirements of environmental monitoring.

In commodity inspection and materials science, this instrument is used to assess the quality of imported goods and analyze the composition of building materials, metallic minerals, and other materials to ensure compliance with safety standards. For example, in the flammability testing of building materials, the single-flame source tester can assess flame propagation characteristics, providing a basis for fire safety design.

Furthermore, with technological advancements, the application boundaries of single-flame atomic absorption spectrometers are constantly expanding, gradually penetrating from the field of inorganic chemistry to the field of organic chemistry, becoming a universal tool for elemental analysis in multiple industries. Its technological advantages include:

High sensitivity and accuracy: It can detect extremely low concentrations of hazardous substances, meeting the stringent requirements of environmental monitoring and other scenarios;

Wide applicability: It supports the determination of multiple elements, covering heavy metals, non-metals, and semi-metals;

Rapid analysis speed: It can complete the determination of multiple samples in a short time, improving the efficiency of laboratory and industrial sites;

User-friendly design: Equipped with modules such as an autosampler and hydride generator to meet different analytical needs.

Maintenance and Care

The maintenance and care methods for a single-flame source analyzer (taking a flame atomic absorption spectrometer as an example) mainly include the following aspects:

Maintenance and care of the atomization system: After each sample test and analysis, the atomizing burner system needs to be cleaned, including the atomizer, mist chamber, and burner, to ensure that no residue remains in the slits and the flame is stable. After long-term analysis of solutions containing a large amount of organic matter, solid dirt will form at the burner head slits. The burner head needs to be removed, cleaned with detergent powder and a brush, and then rinsed with water. In addition, after each measurement, pure water should be continuously drawn in for 3-5 minutes to flush out any remaining sample solution in the atomizer mixing chamber, preventing long-term corrosion of the inner wall.

Maintenance and care of the light source: When the hollow cathode lamp and optical system surface are dusty, they can be blown off with a bulb syringe; if there are fingerprints or oil stains, they should be gently wiped with a cotton ball soaked in a mixture of alcohol and ether (1:3). The hollow cathode lamp has a lifespan of over 1000 hours at a 5mA lamp current. If not used for extended periods, it should be powered on for 1-2 hours every 2-3 months.

Optical System Maintenance and Care: Optical components in the external optical path must be kept clean, at least once a year. If dust accumulates on the optical components, wipe them with lens paper. If contaminated with oil or sample solutions, first soak them in a 1:1 mixture of ethanol and ether, then wipe them clean with a dry gauze, and finally rinse with distilled water and blow away any water droplets with a bulb syringe. Never touch hard metal objects or the mirror surface with your hands during cleaning.

Gas Pipeline Inspection and Maintenance: Regularly check gas cylinders for leaks, ensure the gas pipeline is airtight, and verify the normal flow rates of air and acetylene. Also, check the cleanliness of the gas pipeline to prevent blockages, and periodically check gas line connections with soapy water to prevent leaks that could cause accidents or affect the accuracy of results.

Cooling water circulation inspection and maintenance: Check the cooling water level to determine if water needs to be added or the instrument needs cleaning. For X-ray fluorescence spectrometers and oxygen analyzers, it is necessary to distinguish between internal cooling water (deionized water, used to cool electrically charged high-temperature components) and external cooling water (tap water, used to cool the internal cooling water). ICP analyzers only have internal cooling water, and their cooling is achieved through a fan. Atomic absorption analyzers use tap water directly for cooling of non-electrically charged parts.

Daily use and storage precautions: Keep the instrument clean inside and out, and take precautions against moisture, rust, and interference. Handle precision instruments with care; wipe optical components with lens paper, not a damp cloth. When the instrument is not in use, protect it with a dust cover and place desiccant silica gel inside the cover. If the instrument is not used for extended periods, it is recommended to turn it on 1-2 times per week for about half an hour each time to prevent electrolytic capacitor deterioration or partial short circuits in the electronic circuit board.

In summary, single-flame source analyzers (taking flame atomic absorption spectrometers and other typical equipment as examples) have become indispensable analytical tools in industries such as wire and cable, geology and metallurgy, medical and environmental protection, thanks to their intelligent design, high-precision detection capabilities, and adaptability to multiple fields. Their maintenance requires attention to key aspects such as cleaning the atomization system, regular activation of the light source, anti-fouling treatment of optical components, checking the gas path sealing, and monitoring the cooling system, while adhering to the principles of moisture-proof, dust-proof, and corrosion-proof storage. Scientific maintenance not only extends the equipment's lifespan and ensures the reliability of test data but also provides solid technical support for product quality control, environmental safety assessment, and scientific research innovation. With technological iteration, single-flame source analysis technology will continue to expand its application boundaries, injecting stronger momentum into the high-quality development of various industries.